No Currency

A pound Sterling – two forty Saxon hammered coins; silver pennies or “little stars1”. It was Offa of Mercia, eighth century king2, first issued the silver penny, and two hundred and forty weighed one pound or libra. He copied the Roman denarius coin so one penny became “1d.” and twelve of these equalled one solidus, or “1s.” And thus became L.s.d. – Pounds, shillings and pence. Sad day annus horribilis nineteen sev’nty one when decimalisation came and Great Britain lost her monetary heritage.